When using the official Thai Buddhist calendar, the year 2013 is actually 2556. The calendar begins with the death of the Buddha 543 years before the start of the Christian calendar. It’s also celebrated in April according to sun & star alignment rather than the beginning of the lunar year.
Originally, scented water was poured over statues of Buddha for good luck. This water was then saved and gently sprinkled onto loved ones as a blessing.
Eventually that time-honored and holy tradition has morphed into filling giant super-soakers full of dirty moat water and blasting it into the faces of complete strangers!